14th Ranked Illini Survive In OT After Late Game Collapse

By IlliniGuys Staff

February 4, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Coleman Hawkins scored 20 points and had a key steal in the final seconds of overtime as 14th ranked Illinois escaped an upset bid by Nebraska, 88-84 Sunday night.

"I thought we just stayed connected", Marcus Domask told Big Ten Network's Robbie Hummel after the game. "They were hitting shots, Coleman Hawkins was hitting tough shots.  But I felt like every time out we just settled down and we knew that if we stayed together, we'd win this game."

Illinois appeared on its way to a victory when Terrence Shannon Jr. drained a three-pointer with 3:29 on the clock and a 72-62 Illini lead.  But Nebraska went on an 11-0 run, capped off by a Rienk Mast layup with nine seconds left.  Domask, the second-best free throw shooter in the Big Ten at 89 percent, hit one of two free throws with three seconds left to force overtime at 73-73.

The win lifts Illinois (17-5, 8-3) into a second place tie in the Big Ten with 6th ranked Wisconsin, which lost at home to #2 Purdue earlier in the day.

Domask finished with 19 points and Shannon had 18.  Ty Rodgers pulled down 14 rebounds.

Nebraska (16-6, 6-6) was led by a career-high 31 points from Keisei Tominaga.

"I think our defense has got to pick up", Domask said. "Earlier in the year, we were really solid in that end, but it's kind of fallen off a little bit.  So we've been getting after it in practice and that's something we're really focused on."

The Illini will be idle until visiting Michigan State Saturday afternoon (1pm CT, CBS).

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete postgame coverage.

 

Podcasts

Portal Kombat – March 30, 2025 Edition - #476

Listen

Mar 28 - Hr2 - S4Ep33 - Illini Seasons End

Listen

Mar 28 - Hr1 - S4Ep33 - Illini Seasons End

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini Men’s Season Ends with Loss to Kentucky Wildcats - #475

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini Women Win First NCAA Tourney Game Since March 2000 - #474

Listen

Mar 21 - Hr2 - S4Ep32 - Illini in NCAA Tourney

Listen

Mar 21 - Hr1 - S4Ep32 - Illini in NCAA Tourneys

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini 86-73 NCAA Tourney Victory over Xavier - #473

Listen

IlliniGuys NCAA Tournament Selection Bracket Breakdown Show - #472

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini Smashed by Maryland Terrapins in the B1G Tourney - #471

Listen

Illinois Fighting Illini Defeat Iowa Hawkeyes in B1G Tourney Opener - #470

Listen

The Next 5 Years Are the Most Important in the History of Illini Athletics

Listen

IlliniGuys B1G Men’s Basketball Tournament Preview - #469

Listen

Mar 7 - Hr2 - S4Ep30 - Floyd Mayweather, Jimmy Johnson, Serena, LeBron & Game Predictions

Listen

Mar 7 - Hr1 - S4Ep30 - Illini vs Purdue, Illini Women in B1G Tourney, Illini NIL & the Next Cinderella

Listen